Dren Bio Inc. has closed on a $60 million series A to push its two lead programs through early clinical development. The company’s DR-01 is an antibody-based therapy for treating rare leukemias, lymphomas and specific phenotypes of autoimmune disorders. The company said it is initially targeting neglected hematology-oncology indications.
Cyclerion Therapeutics Inc.’s phase II blowup with sickle cell disease (SCD) candidate olinciguat ended its development, and attention turned to the Cambridge, Mass.-based firm’s earlier-stage effort with IW-6463, a drug in the same class for central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
A phase III failure of Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB's oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist avatrombopag to effectively outperform a placebo in treating chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, or low platelet counts, sent company shares down 17.9% on Oct. 9.
A revised U.S. label for Glaxosmithkline plc's Nucala (mepolizumab) has expanded the first-in-class anti-IL-5 treatment's approval to hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), a group of rare disorders associated with persistent eosinophilia. It's the new therapy approved for Americans with HES in nearly 14 years, according to the FDA. An EMA filing in HES is expected later this year.